Every decision we've summarized — searchable, filterable, neutral.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a civil rights complaint filed by a pro se appellant. The court found no reversible error in the district court's adoption of a magistrate judge's recommendation.
The Ninth Circuit denied Maritza Isabel Lopez Escobar's petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' decision rejecting her claims for asylum and protection under the Convention Against Torture. The court held that substantial evidence supported the agency's finding that she failed to prove past persecution and that her claims regarding future harm and CAT relief were unexhausted.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of David Antoine Luster's motion for compassionate release, ruling that his claim of an unusually long sentence did not constitute an extraordinary and compelling reason for relief. The court held that the district court properly weighed the severity of Luster's bank robbery convictions and firearm offenses against the non-retroactive changes in law under the First Step Act.
The Ninth Circuit denied Wayner Baudilio Cano-Cardona's petitions for review, upholding the Board of Immigration Appeals' refusal to grant asylum and related relief. The court found that gang recruitment attempts were motivated by criminal intent rather than a protected ground, and that the petitioner failed to meet the legal standards for withholding of removal or Convention Against Torture protection.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a RICO lawsuit alleging a loan scam orchestrated by an attorney and his colleagues. The court held that plaintiffs failed to plausibly allege the existence of an unincorporated partnership, which was a necessary element for both the RICO claims and the liability of the individual attorneys.
The Fourth Circuit reversed a district court dismissal based on equitable mootness in a simple Chapter 13 bankruptcy case. The court affirmed the bankruptcy court's denial of the debtor's first plan due to a lack of good faith.
The Seventh Circuit dismissed an appeal challenging a district court's denial of qualified immunity because the lower court's ruling was not a final adjudication. The appellate court held that the district court's decision to deny immunity without prejudice and invite further arguments at summary judgment did not satisfy the collateral order doctrine.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the denial of a new trial motion but vacated a sentence enhanced based on the defendant's status as a police officer. The court held that professional status is not a valid statutory factor for upward sentencing adjustments under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).
The Fourth Circuit vacated summary judgment in a Fourth Amendment excessive force case, holding that genuine disputes of material fact exist regarding the reasonableness of a vehicle ramming and shooting. The court ruled that a reasonable jury could find the force used was not objectively justified given the suspect was unarmed and the circumstances did not pose an immediate threat.
